SYDNEY, April 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Ventyx, an ABB company, today announced that Sydney Ferries has successfully completed a significant upgrade of Ventyx Ellipse for Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), on time and on budget. Sydney Ferries also implemented other leading Ventyx solutions as part of the organization's strategic review of business processes and systems.

The implementations have enabled Sydney Ferries to achieve significant functional improvements that further enhance the safety and reliability of its ferry service, which transports more than 14 million people across Sydney Harbour and the Parramatta River each year. For example, vessel availability – or the proportion of the fleet which is available for service – has increased to 90 percent, up from 71 percent five years ago. And despite the age and complexity of Sydney Ferries' fleet, vessel reliability has increased for a fifth-consecutive year, to reach 98 percent.

"With millions of people relying on our ferry service, it is essential we meet strict performance guidelines and government regulations – ensuring both the safety and comfort of our passengers, and delivering them on time to their destinations," said David Toose, CFO of Sydney Ferries. "Investing in the foundation to achieve these goals – asset and work management – is therefore a strategic imperative."Ventyx continues to be a valuable partner in delivering successful solutions that underpin these critical capabilities."

Sydney Ferries has successfully deployed Ventyx Ellipse for asset and work management, finance and HR. In addition, the organization implemented Ventyx Critical Inventory Optimization, which has improved procurement of stock items and reduced inventory holdings. It has also rolled out Ventyx's hosted business-to-business procurement solution, replacing manually printed purchasing forms and enforcing government-delegated authority rules. Sydney Ferries also deployed web services, enabling delivery of a customized portal at the helm of each vessel, so that staff can immediately report any incidents to Sydney Ferries' headquarters.

"Ventyx continues to demonstrate how its broad solutions portfolio can help customers achieve significant business value," said John Moran, vice president of public infrastructure APAC, Ventyx. "We look forward to continuing our productive partnership with Sydney Ferries in further expanding its work and asset management capabilities to benefit workers and passengers alike."

Sydney Ferries is a government agency of Transport for NSW, which is responsible for New South Wales' transport coordination, policy and planning for rail, bus, ferry and road services and its related infrastructure. The company operates approximately 175,000 services across an extensive network connecting 39 destinations. Sydney Ferries' fleet consists of 28 vessels, which travel around 1.3 million kilometers per year.

About Ventyx

Ventyx, an ABB company, is a world-leading supplier of Industrial Enterprise Software for essential industries such as energy, mining and public infrastructure. Ventyx solutions bridge the gap between information technologies (IT) and operational technologies (OT), enabling clients to make faster, better-informed decisions in both daily operations and long-term planning strategies. Some of the world's largest organizations rely on Ventyx solutions to minimize risk, enhance operational and financial performance, and execute the right strategies for the future. For more details, see www.ventyx.com.